What's a parent to do? Take time to customize lunches for kids in school or pick up ready-made kits? To help you decide, Savvy Shoppers Lisa Deaderick and Kathy Van Mullekom plan the menu. Lisa picks up energizing snacks at Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter, hoping to embellish the basic sandwich and drink. Kathy opts for the lazy route, grabbing a couple Lunchables kits at Farm Fresh and Food Lion.

Kathy's visit to Food Lion and Farm Fresh

Why I shopped there: Being a regular shopper at Farm Fresh and Food Lion, I knew Lunchables kits by Oscar Mayer were available - but, I swear I never fed them to my now-grown kids. I don't think I would have fed the contents to my late miniature schnauzer because even she ate healthier than what is in those boxes. Sodium and sugar content is high, and fiber is zero. The price for each is relatively cheap, but you have to first gauge what value you put on your child's health and nutrition. Personally, I would rather have a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich.

What I bought:

At Food Lion, Lunchables kit with six each Ritz crackers, turkey and Cheddar cheese "product." It also contained Skittles candy and a wild cherry-flavored Capri Sun drink.

Why I shopped there: Trader Joe's is one of my regular stops for groceries and Harris Teeter is another health-conscious spot that usually makes up the difference for whatever I can't find at Joe's. Since I don't mind tofu and a shot of wheat grass with the occasional cheeseburger, I went after the healthy alternatives for lunch. There are about as many calories in all the nutritious stuff, but you get a lot more value out of nuts and fruit than processed meats and white flour. All of these snacks are just suggestions, though, since few kids would probably eat all of this for lunch.

What I bought: (each lunch lists approximate individual prices as opposed to the cost of each pack):

Here's what we think - strictly personal opinions - are the better buys and why: We taste-tested the stuff and the healthy snacks beat Lunchables kits by the longest division problem a teacher could ever assign.

From Kathy: The 10 individual packs of almonds, cashews and cranberries from Trader Joe's are especially tasty; they contain good fiber and little sodium. The roasted plantains chips were not to my liking, but the chocolate graham toucan cookies in the 100-calorie pack are really good. A co-worker says the calcium-rich string mozzarella cheese is the best he's ever tasted.

From Lisa: I have to disagree with Kathy here. The plantain chips are a personal favorite of mine-they taste pretty close to potato chips, but are better for you. The chocolate graham cookies are a winner and the tiny bottles of water are convenient and easy to pack. To be honest, I adored Lunchables when I was kid. They were just so much fun.

- Lisa B. Deaderick and Kathy Van Mullekom

You be the shopper

Add your 2 cents' worth to our Savvy Shoppers feature and tell us about great deals you find at local stores. Shopping tips are also appreciated. E-mail Lisa Deaderick at ldeaderick@ dailypress.com or Kathy Van Mullekom at kvanmullekom@ dailypress.com.

Here are some comments relating to our Aug. 31st column on the Simply Calphalon and Bialetti frying pans from Hecht's-Macy's and Costco, respectively.

Watch those bolts

Tommy Dix of Williamsburg says he does lots of cooking, especially poaching and sautéing, so he knows what to look for in a good stovetop pan.

Avoid a pan where bolts securing the handle protrude into the interior, he says. Those bolts catch food remnants, making it difficult to thoroughly clean the pan.

There's also an art to keeping your stovetop clean while using a frying pan with a lid, he says. Lift the lid so the bottom drips into the pan.

Rethinks purchase

Linda Merslich of James City County says she thought she got a good buy until she read last week's column. She bought a 12-inch glass-covered, nonstick Anolon pan for $29 at T.J. Maxx. "I should have gone to Costco," she says.

Check warranties

Another reader suggests we discuss warranties on products, which is an excellent idea.

Calphalon comes with a 10-year guarantee; Costco has a liberal return policy on most merchandise, with some restrictions on computers. - Kathy Van Mullekom